tailcoat

clothing

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

A tailcoat is a type of coat, specifically a man's formal coat characterized by two long, tapering skirts at the back. It is also referred to as a dress coat. The term "tailcoated" describes someone who is wearing a tailcoat. This style of coat was first known in 1847.123

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dress
The 19th century
The tailcoat, waisted and padded on the chest, was de rigueur, accompanied by a waistcoat and close-fitting trousers called pantaloons, which were first buckled at the ankle and later, after 1820, strapped under the instep.
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The tailcoat, waisted and padded on the chest, was de rigueur, accompanied by a waistcoat and close-fitting trousers called pantaloons, which were first buckled at the ankle and later, after 1820, strapped under the instep.
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survivals
…specifically the styling of the tailcoat, as an example in which vestiges of a past item—in this case the greatcoat, with its waist-length front and split tail for ease in riding horses—had survived into the present.
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…specifically the styling of the tailcoat, as an example in which vestiges of a past item—in this case the greatcoat, with its waist-length front and split tail for ease in riding horses—had survived into the present.
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